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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Population
An assessment of population growth drivers in Telarah reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends
Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of 1 Nov 2025, Telarah's estimated population is around 2,422. This reflects an increase of 104 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,318. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 2,330 residents following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release (June 2024), along with three validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,693 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Telarah has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.8%, outpacing its SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. By 2041, Telarah is forecasted to increase its population by 639 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 35.0% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Telarah according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
Telarah has seen limited development activity with an average of 2 approvals per year over five years, totaling 11 approvals. This low level is typical in rural areas due to modest housing needs and demand-limited construction activity. The small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth statistics.
Compared to the Rest of NSW and national averages, Telarah has much lower development activity. New building activity consists of 33.0% detached houses and 67.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current 89.0% houses pattern. This change may indicate diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 647 people per approval, Telarah is an established area with a projected increase of 849 residents by 2041 (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current construction levels continue, housing supply might lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.
Future projections show Telarah adding 849 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Should current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Telarah has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project, Truegain Site Remediation, Dalmore Park Employment Hub, and Max McMahon Oval Amenities Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone
The Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is a major infrastructure initiative designed to facilitate the transition to renewable energy in the Hunter and Central Coast regions. The project involves the construction of two new energy hubs (substations) at Sandy Creek (Muswellbrook) and Antiene (Singleton), upgrades to existing substations, and the augmentation of 85km of sub-transmission lines between Kurri Kurri and Muswellbrook. This network infrastructure will provide 1GW of additional capacity by 2028, enabling the connection of large-scale wind, solar, and battery storage projects. EnergyCo NSW serves as the infrastructure planner, with Ausgrid appointed as the network operator. Early works and site establishment commenced in 2025 following planning approval, with full network capacity expected by mid-2028. The project is expected to catalyse over $3.9 billion in investment across the region.
Maitland Local Housing Strategy 2041
A comprehensive strategic planning framework adopted by Maitland City Council on 27 June 2023 and endorsed by the NSW Government on 9 September 2024. The strategy guides residential development and growth in the Maitland local government area through to 2041. It identifies areas for new housing, prioritizes infill development and housing diversity (including affordable housing) to meet the projected need for approximately 25,200 additional dwellings by 2041, and aligns infrastructure planning to support growth.
Maitland Mental Health Rehabilitation Project
A purpose-built 64-bed mental health rehabilitation facility on the Maitland Hospital campus, featuring 24 low-secure forensic beds, 20 medium-secure forensic beds, and 20 high-support rehabilitation beds. The facility includes single bedrooms with ensuites, shared living spaces, therapy areas, and nature-integrated design with outdoor therapy spaces and walking paths. Designed by Bates Smart, the project will relocate and expand services from Morisset Hospital, supporting a transitional model of care with contemporary mental health services for adults in the Hunter region. Part of the NSW Government's $700 million Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program.
Hunter Transmission Project
500 kV transmission line project delivering a new approximately 110 km overhead line from Bayswater Power Station (Muswellbrook LGA) to a new switching station at Olney State Forest (Cessnock LGA). Includes new switching stations at Bayswater and Mount View (near Olney), plus upgrades to Eraring substation. Increases transfer capacity by up to 5 GW, forms the southern section of the Sydney Ring, and enables renewable energy from Central-West Orana and New England REZs while strengthening NSW grid reliability as coal generators retire. Led by EnergyCo; Transgrid is the committed network operator.
High Speed Rail - Newcastle to Sydney (Stage 1)
The first stage of the proposed National High Speed Rail network aims to connect Newcastle to Sydney via the Central Coast, reducing travel time to approximately one hour with trains reaching speeds up to 320 km/h. The project is focused on the development phase, which includes design refinement, securing planning approvals, and corridor preservation. It is being advanced by the Australian Government's High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA). Stations are planned for Broadmeadow, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, and Central Sydney. The long-term vision is a national network connecting Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne.
Dalmore Park Employment Hub
150-hectare master-planned employment precinct in Rutherford, Maitland LGA. Designed as a mixed-use business park featuring advanced manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, health/medical services, education facilities, office space, retail and hospitality. Positioned to become a key economic and innovation hub for the Hunter Region with sustainable design, conservation areas and direct access to the New England Highway.
Truegain Site Remediation
NSW Government-led remediation of the former Truegain waste oil refinery in Rutherford to remove PFAS, hydrocarbons and other contaminants. Stage 1 (completed 2023) removed over 11,000 tonnes of waste and 135 steel tanks. Stage 2, awarded to Ford Civil Contracting in March 2025, is now underway and involves demolition of concrete slabs, excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil across the 1.2 ha site, followed by validation and backfilling for future industrial reuse.
Rutherford Waste Oil Refinery
Australia's first Category 1 Product Stewardship for Oil (PSO) waste oil refinery facility that processes over 150 million litres of used automotive and lubricating oils annually, converting them into premium grade lubricant base oils and fuel oils. The facility serves automotive workshops, engineering facilities, and mine sites across the Hunter Valley and central coast regions.
Employment
The labour market performance in Telarah lags significantly behind most other regions nationally
Telarah has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors, and an unemployment rate of 5.9% as calculated by AreaSearch using statistical area data. As of September 2025, 1,198 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.1% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.
Workforce participation in Telarah stands at 58.9%, slightly above Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. The area demonstrates a strong focus on mining, with an employment share twice that of the regional level (2.2 times). Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented in Telarah, accounting for only 1.7% of its workforce compared to Rest of NSW's 5.3%.
Locally, employment opportunities appear limited as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population numbers. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Telarah's labour force decreased by 2.4%, with employment also decreasing by the same percentage, while unemployment remained relatively stable. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced a slight contraction in employment (-0.5%), a minor decline in labour force (-0.1%), and an increase in unemployment (0.4 percentage points). Statewide, NSW saw a marginal decrease in employment (-0.03%) between November 2024 and November 2025, with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was slightly higher at 4.3% during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts for May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Telarah's current employment mix suggests local job growth of 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though these estimates are illustrative and do not account for localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment
Telarah's income level is approximately average nationally according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. The median income among Telarah taxpayers is $51,080 and the average income stands at $64,667. This compares to figures for Rest of NSW which are $49,459 and $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $57,521 (median) and $72,822 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Telarah all fall between the 20th and 26th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 33.7% of the community (816 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 29.9% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 19th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Telarah is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
In Telarah, as per the latest Census evaluation, 89.4% of dwellings were houses while 10.6% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro NSW's figures of 87.1% houses and 13.0% other dwellings. Home ownership in Telarah stood at 28.5%, similar to Non-Metro NSW. Dwellings were either mortgaged (38.7%) or rented (32.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,500, lower than the Non-Metro NSW average of $1,862. The median weekly rent in Telarah was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $375. Nationally, Telarah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Telarah features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 65.0% of all households, including 22.1% couples with children, 23.4% couples without children, and 17.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.0%, with lone person households at 32.0% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.7.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Telarah faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally
The area's university qualification rate is 10.5%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This discrepancy presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives in the region. Bachelor degrees are the most common type of university qualification held by residents at 7.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent among residents aged 15 and above, with 42.9% holding such qualifications.
Advanced diplomas account for 7.5% of these credentials, while certificates make up the majority at 35.4%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 27.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
The analysis indicates that Telarah currently operates 20 active public transport stops. These are served by a mix of bus routes totalling 18 individual services. Together, these routes facilitate 236 weekly passenger trips.
The accessibility of the transport system is rated as excellent, with residents typically situated 148 meters from their nearest stop. Across all routes, service frequency averages 33 trips per day, which translates to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Telarah is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts
Telarah faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups.
As of approximately 2020, around 53% (~1,272 people) had private health cover, slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues affected 14.1% of residents, while asthma impacted 11.0%. Conversely, 56.9% reported no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in Rest of NSW. In Telarah, 16.2% (~392 people) were aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors presented challenges broadly similar to those of the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The latest Census data sees Telarah placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics
Telarah, surveyed in June 2016, had a population with 93.1% citizens, 95.0% born in Australia, and 97.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 54.8%, compared to 57.0% across Rest of NSW. Ancestry-wise, Australian (32.9%), English (31.1%), and Irish (9.3%) were the top groups.
Notably, Polish (1.3% vs regional 0.7%), Australian Aboriginal (6.9% vs 5.1%), and Samoan (0.4% vs 0.1%) had higher representations than the regional averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Telarah's population is slightly younger than the national pattern
Telarah's median age is 35, which is notably lower than both the Rest of NSW average of 43 and the Australian median of 38. In comparison with the Rest of NSW average, Telarah has a higher proportion of 25-34 year-olds (18.6%) and a lower proportion of 55-64 year-olds (9.6%). According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group increased from 16.5% to 18.6%, while the 55-64 cohort decreased from 11.5% to 9.6%. The 5-14 age group also dropped from 12.2% to 10.5%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Telarah's age profile. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 48%, adding 217 residents to reach 668. Meanwhile, the 65-74 group is expected to grow by 4%, adding only 8 residents.